‘Thor: Ragnarok’ Will Debut Marvel’s Next Female Superhero

In the Norse mythological tradition, the term Ragnarök refers to a great series of cataclysmic events through which the slate of Earth may be struck completely, wiped clean, and started anew. It’s like a slightly more optimistic version of the apocalypse, wherein two survivors will begin again in a purer, kinder world. So when Marvel revealed that the third installment in Thor’s solo series of films would be titled Thor: Ragnarok, everyone knew what was up. This is not Thor: Day at the Beach or Thor: Light Picnic. In the parlance of “the streets,” it’s going down.

Though the specifics as to the end-of-days facing everyone’s favorite Norse god may have yet to take shape, Devin Faraci at Birth.Movies.Death has illuminated one exciting aspect of the upcoming film. Citing a shadowy, unnamed source, Faraci alleges that Valkyrie, the Norse superheroine and goddess of repute, “might” make her live-action debut in the upcoming release. The two previous films centering on Thor have already introduced a number of his associates in Valhalla, from nemesis Loki to ruling monarchs Odin and Frigga to the Idris Elba-played Heimdall. It’s high time that they incorporated one of the most central figures in Thor’s mythos into the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

But who is Valkyrie, really? Born Brunnhilde, Valkyrie was selected by Odin to be the leader of the Valkyrior, a group of celestial beings who floated above human battlefields and selected which warriors had demonstrated sufficient bravery to ascend to Valhalla after dying. Like anyone, Valkyrie had a life outside of work, however. She was Thor’s one-time lover and constant partner on the battlefield, lead the superteam known as the Defenders, and showed herself to be a capable Avenger during a handful of stints as one of Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.What role she’ll play in the larger mechanism of the MCU, with its innumerable moving parts, remains unclear, but one thing is for certain: it’s always good to see another female face getting some air time in a major studio picture such as this.